Midweek Faith Lift
October 22, 2025
“Divine Order/Divine Chaos-Adjustment”
Rev. Deb Hill-Davis
Spiritual Passages, October14
Diwali - October 20
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Hindu celebration symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term "dipavali," meaning “row of lights.” During Diwali, families come together to light lamps, exchange gifts, and partake in feasts. Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists and, much like Christmas, the holiday transcends religion and is celebrated by more than a billion people worldwide. The myths and stories behind the holiday share themes of justice and liberation. Diwali is celebrated every year in autumn, usually falling between October and November.
Spiritual Reflection
Diwali’s glow is more than a festive shimmer. It points us to the truth that even the smallest light can push back darkness. Each lamp lit is an act of spiritual courage, a declaration that hope still burns, that goodness still rises, and that truth still finds its way through shadow. As families gather and flames flicker, we are invited to kindle our own inner light - compassion, justice, and love - and let it shine outward. In doing so, we don’t just celebrate light; we become it. ~Scott Awbrey
"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." ~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
And lest we forget that we are constantly holding both our humanity and divinity:
Some days, I love myself and think I what an amazing person I am. Other days, I'm looking for my phone while I’m talking on it.
Affirmative Prayer for today: Divine Light within and around each and every one of us, open my heart so that my light may shine and illuminate this world to hold the light for all to do the same, even when I am truly challenged and I would rather not! Amen.
Last time we were together, we explored the Power of Order and Organization, recognizing that this Power is truly a process, a dynamic energy, not a finished product or state. We considered the process of order, disorder and re-order that is part of this larger Power of Order. It is a both/and process of holding both Divine Chaos and Divine Order as things continually change and evolve into a new and higher order. It is in reality about us learning to hold the polarities within ourselves and in the outer world. How do we consistently sustain our light in the midst of darkness and fear, anger and outrage?
That is a really hard question right now, and one that we would just as soon not have to address, but here it is! Today, we are exploring the process of adjustment as part of the process of Order. What does that mean, and what does that require of us? Well to be very clear, adjustment does NOT mean accommodation to what is hurtful, harmful or unjust and just plain wrong. For example, in seeking the balance that is part of this spiritual Power of Order, we do not accommodate emotional and physical abuse, homophobia, slavery, racism, misogyny, harassment of any kind or injustice of any kind.
The balance of Divine Order and adjustment also does not accommodate a “my way or the highway” kind of thinking. All or nothing thinking is not a part of Divine Order. In reality, it contributes to absolutism and ongoing conflict, which is not Divine Order and in fact contributes to Divine Chaos. While we don’t accommodate all those things, we also don’t deny that they are there and the reality that we may have contributed to them. That can lead to toxic positivity, which is of no real help in our personal and spiritual growth and the realization of a new order, a higher order.
So what is adjustment? How do we experience it? Well, when we consider our human experience of adjustment as a process, my first thought was of learning to ride a bike. Do you remember that? It was constant process of “dynamic steering” whereby you find balance, notice the bike itself and how it fits you, and what it feels like to pedal and brake, to go fast and slow. Then you notice the road, the traffic flow, pedestrians, the parked cars and so on. You pay attention to what is right there, in the moment and you adjust the bike, how you ride, your speed so that you stay upright and on the bike. Your intention is to arrive at your destination safely and in one piece and to enjoy the experience.
We do the same thing when we learn to drive a car adjusting to road conditions, city traffic, highway speeds, and weather conditions. It requires ongoing “dynamic steering” to navigate safely to your destination. That is what adjustment means in our human experience, and we all have a real “feel” for that process in our minds and our bodies for sure. When someone cuts in front of me on I-35 at 80 mph, I for sure have a startle response in my body and tension in my neck and shoulders. What is essential to our emotional and spiritual well being is to notice and pay attention to these experiences so that we are empowered to learn how to navigate them more skillfully to bring about that higher understanding and realization of Order, Divine Order.
Frequently attitude adjustment is part of that process! And I am not talking about your attitude, because, while I might wish for it, I actually have NO control over your attitude! Or the driving of other people, wherever I happen to be, all I can adjust is my attitude. How I show up is all that I can ever hope to control and sometimes that is a challenge. I have to make adjustments! I may need to admit how I contributed to the chaos by being late, rushing, driving while angry and on and on! How do I navigate the rough waters that are part of my human life and stay connected with that Divine light within?
What helps most is to stay what I called “prayed up” because that is what supports the “dynamic steering” of spiritual Order that is needed when the going gets tough. Leaving enough time for the trip, saying the Prayer for Protection as I leave the house and blessing the journey to Ames in advance are all really effective and helpful in maintaining the capacity to adjust as I make the drive. When I am in that kind of space and drivers make dumb and dangerous moves, I am able to breathe, send them blessings and adjust both my driving and my attitude so as not to create more tension, disruption and chaos. I can also send myself blessings and love when I do something dumb, because that also happens! Part of adjusting is re-adjusting when I recognize the need to do that!
All of this helps me to maintain balance, peace and stillness within and feel empowered. It allows me to be present to what is actually there….the beauty of the leaves, the Iowa clouds, the bright blue of the sky, the migrating birds and the bounty of the harvest. It is a both/and experience when I maintain that inner balance and connection to Spirit as well as attention to the very human process of driving. I can choose how I think, speak, drive and navigate all the challenges of life. That power of choice is an expression of the spiritual power of Will and when I align my will with the higher energy of Love, of God, then I truly am able to contribute to the expression of the spiritual energy of Order.
In truth, I am likely to get caught up in feelings of outrage and upset about the current conditions in our world, in our country and my self-talk when I am alone in the car, well it is not always very “ministerial!” So I have taken to adding the statement of Truth, “And God is solving this!”, to each of my statements of disbelief and outrage, especially when I drive. Another statement is to say, along with “OMG, I can’t believe….and Love is there!” Because that is the ultimate Truth, friends, Love is always there, Spirit is always there. I just need to remember and remind myself constantly of that higher Truth.
There are two short verses of Scripture that remind us of this constant Truth.
John 1:5 , "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
And Luke 11:34
“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light.”
When we clearly see what is before us, when our eye is clear, then we do allow that light to shine forth and be seen. Keeping the eye clear, that is our biggest challenge. There is now a cessation of fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East. There will need to be a time of re-order, of deep adjustment so that true and lasting peace can become the new, higher order. I share with you the words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, from The Dignity of Difference
"There is a justice higher than retribution, and that is the justice of restoration - where the goal is not to punish the enemy but to make the enemy a partner in peace."
And the words of Senator William Fullbright (1905-19950)
"You cannot create allies out of ashes and humiliation. You create allies out of dignity and opportunity.”
May our capacity to adjust and re-adjust our ideas, beliefs, and expectations and attachments bring us into the balance and alignment of the power of Order. We let God and let go and all is well.
Blessings on the path,
Rev. Deb